COLCHESTER United's academy manager Dave Huzzey complimented his youngsters after the U's under-23s battled to an entertaining draw with Fulham, in the Premier League Cup.

The U's youngsters played out a 0-0 draw against the Cottagers, who topped Premier League division two by seven points and had previously won their last seven matches in all fixtures.

Matt Dibley Dias and Sonny Hilton both hit the woodwork for Fulham in the second half and U's keeper Ted Collins pulled off a number of fine saves.

But Colchester stayed in the game well and might have claimed a late winner, with Tom Stagg, Emmanuel Martins and Marley Miranda all going close in the final stages.

Huzzey said: "We could have nicked something at the end and that was because of the players having that never say die attitude.

"Attitude isn't something I've had to speak about too much, not only with the under-23s but also with the Academy in general.

"The boys understand what they need to do to apply themselves in the right way and the attitude they need.

"With this group, we went to Stoke away and the attitude there was unbelievable to get a victory there.

"And also in this cup, we went to Southend and didn't perform anywhere like how we can do but we ended up getting a point.

"We did the same (against Fulham) and that comes down to the players having the right mental attitude and the desire to not give in and not give up.

"I thought it was an entertaining game.

"We looked a little bit nervous in the first half.

"We're a confident side and I haven't seen them nervous before, in terms of not playing forward as much as we'd have liked to, not having enough awareness before receiving (the ball).

"But I thought in the second half, they grew into it and I think we were a little bit unlucky that we didn't get a little bit more than we got."

Colchester under-23s' draw with Fulham leaves them second in their Premier League Cup group with five points after three games, two points behind their opponents last night.

The U's produced a competitive display in what was a hard-fought contest, something that also pleased Huzzey.

He said: "We want to make sure we make it real for the boys.

"Ultimately, we want to make it like a League Two game but at the same time, make sure that they have that technical side and they carry on developing as footballers and try and stick to the philosophy of the football club, play the right way, etc.

"But they need to do that knowing that they've got to go into a League Two side and compete with the likes of Stevenage and Sutton."